Leading others to reflect Christ
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Shawn Kush from Pennsylvania 2005 Grand Champion at the World Elvis Tribute Artist in United Kingdom.
“Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and true disciples of Jesus Christ are people who are committed to imitating Jesus.”
As believers, Scripture teaches God’s plan for our lives is to be like Jesus.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
1 Peter
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
Today, in what ways can a person imitate Jesus?
What is the hardest part in trying to live for Jesus?
13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.
14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach
15 and have authority to cast out demons.
16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);
17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);
18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,
19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
How would you describe these twelve individuals that Jesus picked in order for Him to invest in and send out to ministry work?
“None were wealthy, highly educated, powerful, or from the ranks of the religious elite… Most were hard-working laborers, others were political zealots, one was dishonest tax collector, and still others were mall-town nobodies.” (p 54 of “The Call: Counting the Cost of Following Christ” by Lifeway.)
Who are some Christians that you have admired in your life? Why? What did the person do for a living?
Look at the way Peter and John are described in Acts.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Just as Jesus transformed two uneducated and common men, God can transform us to do great things for His kingdom.
“Being a follower doesn’t mean we always do extraordinary things for God, What are some ordinary things a follower of Christ can do to advance the kingdom?” p 54 of “The Call: Counting the Cost of Following Christ” by Lifeway.)
Look back at cf, there are two things that we can learn from Jesus as we strive to be more like Him as we live our faith.
“Jesus chose these disciples so He could ‘be with them.’ He wanted to draw them close to Himself, so they could learn in a deeper way about His power and authority over all things.”
Have you ever been mentored by someone before?
Was it beneficial to you? Explain.
Have you ever been mentored by a Christian for your faith and kingdom work?
2. Jesus sent the disciples out.
Jesus didn’t just have Bible study time them. He also had “on the job training with them.” After doing both, he sent the disciples out to do ministry and then they would come back to evaluate. Jesus would invest in them more for them to carry on.
Let us read and share our observations on how Jesus warned and encouraged his disciples before sending them out to do ministry.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts,
10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.
12 As you enter the house, greet it.
13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
As we live our lives of reflecting Christ, I encourage everyone to invest in others like Christ did with His disciples.
If you would be interested in learning how to actually invest in someone like Christ had done, let me know.